Hoisting apparatus.



J. W. HAMMOND & J. F. DONAHUE.

HOISTIN G APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1907.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Inveniow&: J0izn Wfiammond barren snares Parana ora ion,

JOHN W. HAMMOND, OF WINTI-IROP, AND JOSEPH F. DONAI-IUE, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO MEAD-MORRISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CAM- BBIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

HOIS'IING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OI-IN W. HAMMOND and JosnrI-I F. DONAHUE, both citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, in Vinthrop, Sufiolk county, State of Massachusetts, and Boston, Sufiolk county, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Hoisting Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings represent ing like parts.

This invention relates to hoisting apparatus being applicable to an engine-driven,

rope-winding device working under any kind of a load, although in the embodiment herein disclosed it is shown as applied to apparatus used for controlling the position and traverse of a trolley on a boom, the trolley being of the type customarily employed for sustaining a clam-shell bucket or rab.

b The invention has for its object the provision of simple means for effectively and readily controlling the starting and stopping of the engine, the reverse or unwinding movement of the drum and engine and for holding the drum fixed as may be required.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing in diagram an apparatus embodying one form of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail for the purpose of illustrating more clearly the specific construction and arrangement of the controlling devices.

Referring to the drawings and to the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown, the winding drum E has secured to it the rope or cable E adapted to be wound thereon as the drum is turned by the engine E, the latter being geared or otherwise connected directly thereto. The rope or cable E may be utilized for raising, hauling or controlling any desired load, but herein a suitable arrangement is shown for controlling the in-haul and out-haul of the trolley G, which latter is mounted upon the trolley boom G and is utilized for sustaining the grab or bucket A the trolley being hauled out on the boom by winding in the rope or cable E and being caused to travel inwardly on the boom by the pull of the bucket ropes A and A when the rope or cable E is allowed to unwind from the drum E To wind the rope in and haul the trolley out, the trolley engine is started by pressing a treadle a which is connected with a weighted lever 6 by means of cable a running over sheaves 04 the latter in turn being connected with a throttle valve 6 which controls the starting of the engine E by controlling admission of steam thereto. When the trolley has been hauled out to the proper position the engine E is stopped by releasing the treadle a, the throttle valve lever 6 being provided with a weight 6 whereby the throttle is closed automatically when the treadle is released. This stops the operation of the engine and in order to hold the load the drum E is provided with a brake which is herein shown as a band brake E arranged to be operated automatically by means under the control of the same operator who controls the foot lever a. Such brake is normally set but is arranged to be released by means of an actuating device which is here shown as a grip lover a pivotally mounted upon the upright lever or arm C, the latter being herein shown to illustrate a support only for the grip lever and forming no part of the invention set forth in the present application.

The brake E may be conveniently operated by steam pressure, the brake band being herein shown as connected by means of a cable 6 running over a sheave c .with the rod 6 of the piston e operated in a cylinder 0 Steam is admitted to said cylinder through the pipe 7 under the control of a valve which consists of a slide member 9 longitudinally movable in a steam chest 9 hav ing a steam inlet duct g and exhaust duct g. The slide valve 9 is shown as in the form of a longitudinally movable plunger having a spring g which tends to hold it in the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position live steam is admitted to the brake cylinder 0' from the duct 9 through the pocket formed in the valve member 9. The actuating device 0 is arran ed to shift the valve 9 through the action of the link 0 and elbow lever 0 thereby producing a movement of the valve member 9 to the left, Fig. 2. Such movement closes the steam duct 9 and con nects the duct 7' with the exhaust duct g thus permitting the steam to exhaust from the brake cylinder 6 and release the brake.

In the operation of the apparatus as thus far described, the attendant releases the brake on the winding drum by gripping the actuating member 0 at the same time starting the engine by depressing the treadle a, this causing the rope to be wound in and the trolley or other load, to be hauled to the proper position. At the appropriate time the engine is stopped by releasing the treadle a and the brake is set by releasing the grip 0 and thereby holding the engine, drum and load in fixed position. To allow the rope to unwind and the trolley to run back freely, the brake is released by again gripping the handle 0. In securing the unwinding movement of a drum it is usual, particularly in the case of a trolley-traversing drum, to employ a clutch between the drum and the engine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention such clutch is dispensed with, the engine being connected directly to the drum and being permitted itself to reverse during the reverse or unwinding movement of the drum.

In order to permit the connection of the engine to the drum during unwinding move-- ment of the latter, means are provided for placing the engine in condition to run freely in a reverse direction, this being herein ac complished by providing the intake pipe F which leads to the driving engine with a relief valve F which opens communication between said pipe and an exhaust passage F. This permits the steam trapped in the cylinder upon the stopping of the engine to escape so that there is no pressure to prevent the action of the pistons in the reverse running of the engine.

Since the engine must run free when the brake is released to permit the drum to turn backward, the relief valve is arranged to be connected with the brake through the brake piston 6 the connection being herein shown as a cable 6 running over sheaves e and connected with the lever 13 which operates the relief valve F Upon releasing the grip 0 therefore the spring 9 acts to open the steam passage into the brake cylinder 0 the movement of the brake piston 6 then setting the brake and at the same time acting the engine will be free to run backward through the pull of the load. There is thus provided common means for operating the brake and relief valve.

In starting the driving engine E it is necessary to close the relief valve F before opening the throttle Z), and for the purpose of actuating the relief valve in common with the actuation of the throttle, the cable a which is connected to the treadle a is also connected through a spring a with the lever f, the connection between the cable a and the lever 5 being by means of a slot a formed in a link a and a pin 6 on the lever b to allow for the necessary lost motion. In the first movement of the cable a the slot a admits of the closure of the relief valve before the lever Z1 is acted upon to open the throttle b and the spring a admits such necessary further movement to open the throttle after the relief valve has been closed.

By arranging the spring so that the brake is automatically held set and manually released, the work is accomplished by a relatively small effort on the part of the opera ator.

It will be observed that by the use of the two controlling members, to wit the hand lever c and the foot lever a, which are located so as to be within the control of a single operator, the latter is enabled c0- operatively to actuate the three controlling elements, to wit the throttle, relief valve and brake, and obtain quickly yet simply and effectively the required sequence of movements of the drum. Thus, with the foot lever depressed and the hand grip squeezed, the brake is released and the throttle opened the relief valve, if previously open, being closed by the first movement of the throttle lever. This turns the drum to haul in the rope. IVith the foot lever and hand lever both released the throttle is closed, and the brake set to hold the drum fixed, but the relief valve is simultaneously opened with the setting of the brake. lVith the hand lever alone squeezed the brake is released and the relief valve being then open the drum and the engine will run freely backward.

In using the term rope it is to bennderstood that we include thereby wire or other cables, chains, or other equivalent flexible draft members and in referring to the re verse or backward movement of the engine we refer to the movement of the engine which takes place with the unwinding movement of the drum.

IVhile we have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specific form of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the particular arrangement of parts herein or the precise connections between the various controlling elements, but that various modifications to the same may be made and other applications of the invention employed with out departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims.

' 1. In a. hoisting apparatus, the combination with a trolley engine, of a relief valve in the steam inlet to said trolley engine to permit said engine to travel backward freely when said relief throttle-valve is open; a valve for said trolley engine, an actuating device for said throttle valve, the said valve having lost mo tion connect-ions whereby said relief valve may be closed before said throttle valve is opened; a brake for said trolley engine; and a connection between said brake and said relief valve whereby said relief valve is opened by the operation of setting the said brake.

2. The combination with a trolley engine of a steam brake for said trolley engine, said steam brake being normally set; a relief valve in the steam inlet passage to the trolley engine; and common means for operating said brake and said relief valve, substantially as described.

3. A trolley operating device comprising a motor, a starting device for said motor, a brake', means for placing the motor in condition to run freely in a reverse direction, an actuating device common to said means and said brake and operating to set the brake and free the motor, said device releasing the brake independently of the motor freeing means.

4. A cable winding drum; an engine to operate said drum; a throttle to control said engine; a relief-valve to open the intake duct of said engine; a common actuating device for said throttle and said relief-valve, whereby said relief-valve is closed in the operation of opening the throttle; a brake for said winding drum; means for setting said brake; and a connection between said brake setting means and said relief-valve adapted to open said relief-valve, but not to close the same.

5. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element of a rope winding drum, a pressure-fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for the drum, throttling and relief means for the engine, and associated controlling means, adapted to be controlled by a single operator, for opening the throttle with the brake released to wind the rope on the drum or for closing the throttle with the brake released and the engine relieved to unwind the rope from the drum while the engine runs backward or for closing the throttle with the brake applied to hold the drum fixed.

6. In a hoisting apparatus the combination with a hoisting element of a rope Winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for the drum, throttling and relief means for the engine and two controlling members for controlling said brake and the throttling and relief means whereby a single operator can open the throttle with the brake released to wind on the rope or close the throttle with the brake released and the engine relieved to unwind the rope while the engine runs backward, or close the throttle with the brake applied to hold the drum fixed.

7. In a hoisting apparatus the combination with a hoisting element of a rope-winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for the drum, means to control the brake and means to relieve the pressure in the engine when the brake is released and the pressure fluid supply cut off from the engine.

8. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for said drum, arelief valve for the engine, and common means for operating said brake and said relief valve.

9. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for said drum, a relief valve for the engine, and a connection between the brake and the relief valve.

10. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, relief means for the engine, a brake for the drum and controlling means whereby the operator may control said relief means and said brake to hold the drum fixed, or to permit the rope to unwind from the drum while the engine runs backward.

11. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for the drum, means for relieving the pressure in the engine, and brake-operating means having re leasing and applying movements, said means being adapted to relieve the pressure in the engine on movement in one direction.

12. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope wind ing drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a. brake for the drum, meansto relieve the pressure in the engine, brake-operating means having a releasing and a brake applying movement, said means being adapted to open the pressure relief means on movement in one direction, and means for closing the pressure relief means.

13. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, means for relieving the pressure in the engine, a brake for the drum, and means controlling the pressure relief means cooperatively with the brake to hold the relief means either open or closed while the brake is released.

14. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope wind ing drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a relief valve for the engine, a brake for the drum, a common actuating member, connections from said actuating member to the brake, a controlling lever, and connections from the controlling lever to the common actuating member.

15. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a throttle valve for the engine, a relief valve for the engine, a brake for the drum, and connections between said brake and said valves.

16. In a hoisting appa 'atus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, :1 pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a brake for the drum, controlling means for the engine having provision for starting the same and for relieving the pressure therein, and connections between the brake and the starting means.

17 In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope-winding drum, a pressure-fluid engine connected to turn the drum, abrake for the drum, relief means for the engine, and connections to provide for the release of the brake during the time the relief means is open.

18. I11 a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure-fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a throttle for the engine, a relief valve also for the engine, connections between the throttle and relief valve to cause the latter to close before the throttle is open, and means for opening the relief valve indcpendently of the throttle.

19. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a throttle for the engine, a separate relief valve and connections between the relief valve and the throttle valve.

20. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoistin element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, a throttle for the engine, a separate relief valve, connections between the relief valve and the throttle valve, a

brake for the drum, and connections between the brake and the relief valve.

21. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoistmg element, of a rope w1nding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum a brake ressure relief 6 means and pressure fluid control means for controlling said brake and relief means.

22. In a hoisting apparatus, the combina-' tion with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected 5 to turn the drum, a brake, pressure relief means, and pressure fluid control means for controlling said relief means.

23. In a hoisting apparatus of the class described the combination with a rope-winding drum of a hoist-ing element controlled thereby, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the rope-winding drum, an engine throttle valve, a relief valve for the engine,

connections between said throttle valve and relief valve to cause the latter to close before the throttle is opened, a brake for the hoisting drum, connections between the brake and the relief valve to cause the latter to open when the brake is applied and to be left 0 open when the brake is released, common ac tuating means for the brake and relief valve comprising a pressure fluid cylinder and piston and a valve controlling the same,- said valve being normally positioned to open the cylinder to pressure fluid and move the piston to setthe brake and open the valve, and a coi'itrolling lever for the valve, said controlling lever and said foot lever being positioned to be controlled by the same operator.

the trolley engine arranged to cooperate wit-h said brake.

25. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination with a hoisting element, of a rope winding drum, a pressure fluid engine connected to turn the drum, throttle means and relief means for the engine, braking means for the drum and a common operating member for two of said means.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. HAMMOND. JOSEPH F. DONAI-IUE.

Witnesses M. E. CovnNEY, JAS. J. MALoNnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

